Improvement in railroad-signals



.2Sheets--SheetL S. JONES. Railroad-Signals.

Patented Feb. 24, H874.

Wyvr.

'2 sheets--sheez 2f.

S. JUNES. Railrnad-Signals.

Patented Feb. 24,1874.

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NrrEzo STATES PATENT OFFICE.

srAcY JoNEs, or DARBY, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEVINI IN RAILROAD-SIGNALS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. IASLIG, dated February 24, 1874; application tiled December 20, 1873.

To all whom it may concern: p

Beit known that I, STACY J ONES, of Darby,

`in the county of Delaware and State of Penusylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Automatic Railroad Signal and Alarm, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to an automatic apparatus whereby a signal is displayed and a bell sounded at a railroad-crossing, to give warny 2, a side elevation of the same with certain pory tions in section.

In constructing my apparatus, I erect across the roadway, near the railroad-track A, an arehway or frame, B, provided at the top with a box or case, C, containing a signal-board, D, suspended by a cord, a., as shown. By drawing on the cord, the signal may be raised up within the box B out ot' sight; but, when the cord is slackened, the signal slides down below the box, as shown in dotted lines, so that it will attract the attention of persons approaching the track on the road. The signal is to be made of such size and color that it will attract attention, and at night it will have a lantern attached. rIhe cord a, by which the signal is suspended, passes over a pulley, b, in the top of the frame B, and then down over a pulley, c, in an adjacent post, E, and, finally, has its end secured to the weighted end of a pivoted arm, F, as shown in Fig. 2. rIhis arm Flies in a nearly horizontal position, and is of greater weight than the signal D, so that when released it will drop down and draw the signal up out of sight. Below the weighted end of thesarm F, I mount a horizontally-sliding4 block, H, which may be moved forward so as to raise the end of the arm, and thereby allow the signal D to slide down in sight. rIhe block H is connected to the lower end of a vertical lover K, which lis pivoted at its middle in a standard, L. The lever K is connected by a rod or wire, M, with a second vertical lever, N, suspended in a standard, O, which is located by the side of the track at a consider able distance from the roadway or crossinggenerally one hundred and fifty or two hundred yards therefrom. The lever N has its lower end conneetedwith a horizontally-sliding block, which is connected to and moved by a horizontal lever, Q, the outer end of which latter extends close to the railroad-track, as shown in Fig. l, so that itwill be :moved by an arm, Z, which is attached to the side of the engine or one of the cars of each train for this purpose. Near the upright lever K I erect a standard, m, and suspend therein a swinging arm or dog, S, connected by a rod, R, with the upper end` of said lever K, as shown in Fig. 2. I also mount on the standard a transverse rock-shaft, U, having two pendulums, V, attached to its ends, and provided with a lip, W, and arm T, the latter in such position as to be operated by the swinging arm S. On the side of the standard, I se cure a bell or gong, Y, and a pendent springarm7 X, having a hammer or striker on its end,' and operated by the lip W on the rock-shaft. To the sliding block H I connect a horizontal lever, I, arranged in the same manner as the lever Q, to be operated by the train.

As a train on the track advances toward the crossing, the arm or projection Z on the side of the engine or ear comes in contact with the lever Q, and moves it to ,the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby transmitting motion, through the lever N and rod M, to the lever K, which latter moves the block H forward and lowers the signalD, and also, at the same time, through rod R, operates the arm or dog S, which acts upon the arm T, and sets the pendulums in motion, so that they rock theshaft U, and cause its lip IV to operate the bell hammer or striker.

Thus it will be seen that the train, while at a distance from the crossing, automatically displays the signal and sounds the bell at the crossing, to give warning of its approach. rIhe pendulums continue to vibrate until the train reaches the crossing, by which time they are applied to throw the hinged ends forward .in position.

In constructing the apparatus, the rod or ivire M may be supported at suitable intervals by posts, or upon the telegraph-poles in case there are any by the side' of the' road; or the levers may be reversed and the rod carried through a box or trough below the surface oi' the ground. At night a lantern may be attached to the signal or its case. The levers may be made ot' such length that the swiftesttrains will move the mechanism slowly and without-.danger ot' straining or breakingthe same.,

lt will be seen that the actionot' the apparatus is positive and independent of springs or delicate parts, and that the bell and signal have no rigid or positive connection with the operatin mechanism, and, consequently, are not in danger ot' being' disarranged or broken by the sudden action ofthe other parts.

The signal is moved by gravity. In ease the pendulums receive a violent impetus no harm is done, as they will simply swing over in a circle, their shaft being free to rotate in its bearings.

The form and arrangement may be varied without departing from the limits of my in vention, provided it is suspended by a cord or chain, and arranged to slide up within a ease which will conceal it from sight and protect it from storms, missiles, 85e. v

In the drawing, I have shown a spring, o, applied to the lever I for the purpose of keeping it in contact with the block II; but the lever and block may be united and the spring dispensed with.

I claim- 1. In combination with the signal D, cord a, and Weight F, the block H, vertical levers K N, connecting-rod M, and horizontal levers Q, I, arranged and operating substantially as shown,

2. In combination with vthe lever K, rod Il., and arm S, the shaft U, provided with the arm T, lip IV, and pendulum V, and the bell Y, having the spring-hammer X, all constructed and arranged to ope 1ate substantially as dcseribed. 3. In combination with the vertically-sliding si gn al D, suspended by the cord a', the weighted arm Fand sliding block H, arranged as shown.

CTACY' JONES.

Witnesses:

y l?. T. DODGE, WAV. Denen. 

